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Intro: A Time to be Courageous
My friends, all of you will probably agree with me when I say we live in a troublesome time. All kinds of crimes are on the rise. Innocent people are jailed for praying or being in the wrong place. Christians and Jews are attacked for their beliefs and their buildings are defaced.
Criminals, on the other hand, are released without even posting bail. Many times they are never even brought to trial. They move to another area and continue their criminal activities.
Groups are organized to push defunding the police. When policemen do their duties and arrest criminals, they are put right back on the streets to commit more crimes. Rioting in the streets and on college campuses is accepted and not punished.
We need committed Christians.
When I started this article I was not aware of how many other servants of God were given the same assignment. I am always amazed at how the Holy Spirit gives the same message to so many preachers and teachers at the same time.
No one can doubt that today we need courageous men and women to serve as ministers, policemen, and leaders in general. Without those who are willing to step into the gap, our nation will continue falling apart. Our churches will continue to grow weaker. We must turn back to God and His Holy Word.
This problem is as old as mankind. After Israel came out of Egypt into the promised land, Joshua led them until he became too old. He recognized that Israel would need strong guidance to deal with the enemies still surrounding them.
Strong leadership was needed in the time of Joshua, and the church needs it now.
God’s Word tells us.
When the Prophet Joshua was very old he said to the leaders of the people of Israel the following. Joshua 23:6-8 NKJV says, To 6 Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, 7 and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them, 8 but you shall hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.
Joshua knows those to whom he is speaking. He knows what will happen if they don’t turn away from sin and focus on obeying all God’s Laws which show us the way we should go.
Be courageous and don’t abandon God’s Law.
God’s Law not only gives us a closer walk with God, it brings real joy into our lives. Our Creator did not give us laws to keep us from enjoying life. He gave us His Law to help us live together in peace, so we could enjoy all the blessings of life.
His Laws never change. All our national and local laws change continually. It seems that when a party is in power it changes the laws to meet their goals. Sometimes the changes are good, sometimes not.
Some say that justice is blind, but often it is not.
Sin corrupts the law and causes people in power to use it to promote their own agendas.
God’s Law is not like man’s laws.
God’s Law does not change! Not ever!
God’s Word is the one constant to which we can cling. Society always tries to redefine what is right and what is wrong. It is up to us to stand our ground against the changes going on around us. We must obey God’s Word and stand against all attempts to change or corrupt it.
Matthew 5:18 NKJV gives us Jesus’ words, “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”
I would like to see the Ten Commandments put back on display in our schools. It is a simple act that reminds us of what is right and wrong. Our children need to understand what it teaches to help them live better lives. All mankind is blessed when they follow these basic Laws.
God’s Law is a Law of Love.
It shows us that we are responsible for our actions. His Law is an expression of love. We are to love each other no matter how others treat us. We are to treat them as we want them to treat us. Do we show love only to those who give us what we want? We know this is wrong.
God defines the conduct that will make us happy in this life. We are to show some of the same love God gave to us. Remember the Scripture, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 NKJV
He gave us this divine gift while we were still His enemies. God gave us His Son hoping that it would change us and it did. If you are reading this message it means that you probably are being changed day by day.
Changed by His Love.
This is the kind of love we are to show to the world. We are to have true love for all of God’s creation. Jesus showed love to those who were in all kinds of sin. He did not justify what they were doing, but He loved them. He told them what was right and how they should live.
On the cross, He went a step further when He said in Luke 23:34 NIV, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Jesus says that our first commandment is to love God. He continues in Mark 12:31 NKJV, and the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
He acted this out for us on the cross. His concern was still for those who were killing Him. That is true love!
Don’t let yourself be deceived by Satan’s lies!
Satan’s greatest tool is deception. From the very beginning, Satan deceived Eve by telling her what God said was not true. She believed Satan and then shared her sin with Adam. The devil is still trying to do the same today. Satan still desires to convince the children of God that evil is good and good is evil.
He tells us we can do evil and not pay the price for our misdeeds. Satan tells the world that sin does not hurt anyone. He says it is your right to do what feels good to you at the time. It does not matter who you hurt.
If you open your eyes you can see the cost of sin.
The destruction caused by sin is visible all around you. You have experienced what sin does at one time or another. You may come from a broken home or lost a loved one to the evil of drugs or murder. All sin has human costs and brings sadness not joy.
Our greatest asset is our youth and we can easily see the effects of sin in their lives. It often starts with their parents failing to teach their children God’s Word or failing to live it in their own lives.
Sin causes divorce and divorce destroys the lives and hopes of children. The Christian home is the foundation needed to develop children into good men and women.
Satan’s lies bring only destruction. What seems good for a time ends in heartache and broken lives.
Evil is all around you.
It is on the streets, in the business world, in government, in schools, and even in the church. Satan infiltrates into every part of society. People love the world and are filled with want. We want more and more of everything.
You must be courageous to take a stand against Satan’s world. However, you can be that brave person if you will take Jesus’ hand and follow His example. Yes, you may end up the same as Jesus and nearly all of the Apostles. The world will try hard to destroy you and silence you.
As a true follower of Jesus, you should have no fear of death. Scripture says, “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 1 Corinthians 15:55 NKJV
The power of sin can be broken!
Breaking the hold of sin will take faith in God and courage in your daily walk. When we ask Jesus into our hearts and ask Him to fill us with His Spirit, He baptizes us with His Holy Spirit. It is His Holy Spirit dwelling in us that stands against the devil and all his wickedness.
You, as a courageous follower of Jesus Christ, can do things that you never dreamed possible. Paul expresses this truth in Philippians 4:13 NKJV, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. It is not in your power, but the power of the Holy Spirit working through you.
If you are courageous enough to trust God and stand up for His Law of righteousness, He will stand with you. God has called for a change in the way we live.
First, the church must return to preaching God’s Word. We will then see revival in our land.
God is patiently waiting.
In 2 Peter 3:9 NKJV, we are told that, The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
God wants to see all turn to Him. He loves all of His children even more than we love ours.
In conclusion, being courageous is important.
God gave us His Laws so we could have the best possible lives during our time on earth. His Laws are meant to help us enjoy life. God’s Laws were never meant to hurt or keep us from finding joy.
When we obey God’s Word, He will bless us. This is the promise God gives through Moses in Deuteronomy 28:1 NKJV, “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.
Standing courageously by God’s Word will bring you rich blessings. It will also bless those you can reach with His Word.